Coincidence, Thy Name Is Einstein

Depending on what newspaper you read on July 3, the Obama administration is either ready to roll out the third version of Einstein, a system designed to protect the computer networks of nonDefense Department agencies or delayed it because of privacy concerns related to the role of the National Security Agency.

The Washington Post reported with certainty, "The Obama administration will proceed with a Bush-era plan to use National Security Agency assistance in screening government computer traffic on private-sector networks, with AT&T as the likely test site, according to three current and former government officials."

The Wall Street Journal, however, reported, "The flagship system designed to protect the U.S. government's computer networks from cyber spies is being stymied by technical limitations and privacy concerns, according to current and former national-security officials."

But aside from the lede, both of these articles have an amazing amount of coincidence.

The Post, for example, played the NSA in its third paragraph and then noted, "AT&T, the world's largest telecommunications firm, was the Bush administration's choice to participate in the test, which has been delayed for months as the Obama administration determines what elements to preserve, former government officials said. The pilot program was to have begun in February."

The Journal, despite its negative lede, said despite concerns, the Homeland Security Department is proceeding on Einstein with "deliberate speed," even though it will take a while to get all nonDefense agencies on board.

Since coincidences such as this do not happen by accident inside the Beltway, the only puzzle here is who decided to leak the same story to two major dailies on the same day. Could it be AT&T looking to get legal cover, DHS trying to push its cyber role or NSA trying to take over everything cyber.

I don't expect ever to get the answer, but as leaks go, this sure had poor timing. How many folks take the time to read the Post or the Journal over a three-day holiday weekend?